Broughton Copper Works
of Manchester
1855 Sale notice: 'Broughton Copper Works. By T. M. FISHER and SON, on Monday, the 30th day July, 1855. at the Albion Hotel, Piccadilly, Manchester, sale to commence punctually at four for five o'clock in the afternoon: ALL that Well-arranged and Complete COPPER ROLLER MANUFACTORY, lately erected Messrs. John and George Barton, situate at Broughton Bridge, in Broughton, with the three capital steam engines of 55, 21, and 20 horses power ; three steam boilers, steam and water pipes, valves and taps, pumps, cisterns, mill gearing, gas meter, pipes, and fittings. Also the valuable modern tools, nearly all of which are new, in perfect working condition, and on the best known principle, including two refining furnaces, four drying ovens, screw and hydraulic compound press for casting rollers, seven slide and hand lathes, planing machine, drilling machine, three annealing furnaces, Nasmyth's 30cwt. steam hammer, sawing machine, two pairs of heavy rolling mills, two nibbing machines, lever weighing machine up to ten tons, by Ogden, calcining pit and air furnaces, stoves, and other utensils. The land contains 7,121 square yards, and is subject to annual chief rent of £320. The whole establishment has been arranged within the last four years, with the greatest care and judgment, and is the most complete for its purpose now existing. The loose articles may taken by the purchaser the premises at a valuation. May be viewed at any time before the sale, on applying the auctioneers, 16, Tib Lane; or to Messrs. SLATER and HEELIS, Princess-street, Manchester.' [1]
1861 'New Patents' 'D. Stone, Manchester, analytical chemist, and C. Comer, jun., of the Broughton Copper Works, Salford — Improvements in combining metals and alloys of metals for the manufacture of coins, checks, vouchers, brade marks, and other uiseful articles, and for ornamental purposes. Dated April 5, 1861[2]
1928 Visit to the works by the 1928 Institution of Locomotive Engineers
By the kindness of the Directors of the Broughton Copper Works, Ltd., a visit was paid by the members of the North-Eastern Centre to their Works in Salford on the afternoon of Wednesday, 13th June, 1928.
The visit was a sequel to the Paper (No. 227 in Vol. XVIIL, No. 84 of the Journal) read by Mr. F. Tomlinson, a Director of the Company, on “ Collapsing Tests of Copper Flue Tubes.”
The members of the North-Eastern Centre were joined by others of the Manchester Centre, who responded to the invitation.
The visitors were met by representatives of the firm and conducted over the whole of the extensive works, which are employed upon the manufacture of solid drawn tubes, made from copper, brass, aluminium and other alloys; also the rolling of copper bars, or rods, for the manufacture of copper stays for locomotive fireboxes.
The making of copper plates for fireboxes is carried on at another branch of the Company’s works.
The numerous processes were seen from the beginning to the end, and included the pouring of the ingots into the moulds, stripping them, the piercing of the centre hole and the extrusion of the lengthened ingot in presses, the repeated drawings through the reducing dies and the repeated annealings between each drawing, the final cold-drawing to finished diameter and thickness, the swaging down and the expanding of the tube ends, the testing and inspection of the finished tubes and stay rods.
All the processes were very interesting to watch and follow, and the fine quality of the material that was being operated upon was greatly admired—the ductility appeared amazing to the members as they saw the enormous change in form taking place from the short ingot to the very long tube.
Many different sizes were being made, from the small diameters up to 16 in. outside diameter.
Although at the present time the engineering trade is slack, it was pleasing to find that the works were well employed in all departments. A recent development is the making of light copper tubes for use as water pipes in dwelling houses, in lieu of the usual lead water piping, which is more liable to contaminate the water and to bursting.
When the tour of the works was finished, the visitors were entertained by the Broughton Copper Co. to tea in the Manchester Engineers’ Club. In the absence of the Chairman of the North-Eastern Centre, the Honorary Secretary (Mr. • A. Hird) moved a vote of thanks to the directors and representatives of the Broughton Copper Co., Ltd., for their courtesy in providing so interesting a visit and for the hospitality at the tea table, all which had been much appreciated by the members present. Regret was expressed at the absence of Mr. F. Tomlinson, owing to indisposition, and hopes were entertained for his speedy recovery.
Mr. C. F. Adams (North-Eastern Centre) seconded and Mr. J. H. Haigh (Manchester Centre) supported the vote of thanks, which was passed unanimously and suitably acknowledged by Mr. Mercer, the Broughton Copper Company’s representative.